__________________ SEAFORD _________________
HERALD A kickoff to summer reading
Celebrating a milestone
Dedicated to school programs
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Vol. 73 No. 28
JUlY 10 - 16, 2025
$1.00
Shark concerns spark increased beach safety said in a news release. “I encourage all beachgoers to stay safe, stay alert and always State and local officials are follow the direction of lifestepping up efforts to protect guards and park staff.” The increased surveillance swimmers at the beaches from ocean hazards and marine life, follows a June 25 incident in which a 20-year-old following a possible woman was reportshark encounter at Jones Beach State edly bitten by an Park late last month. u n k n ow n m a r i n e In a July 2 news animal while swimrelease, Gov. Kathy ming at Jones Hochul announced Beach’s Central enhanced efforts to Mall. According to monitor sharks and the parks departother potentially ment, she sustained dangerous marine minor lacerations to life at Long Island her left foot and leg, s t at e p a rk s. T h e and was taken to State Office of Nassau University Parks, Recreation Medical Center with and Historic Presernon-life-threatening vation, in partnerinjuries. Lifeguards ship with the and EMTs respondDepartment of Envied to the scene ronmental Conser- RANDY SImoNS immediately, and vation, has expand- New York State swimming was sused surveillance at Parks commissioner pended for the day. state beaches with pro tempore After the inciu p g r a d e d d ro n e s dent, park police and additional used drones to scan trained operators. the area for dangerous marine “ We a r e c o n t i n u i n g t o life, but found no signs of activstrengthen our shark surveil- ity. The swimmer did not see lance capabilities and safety what caused her injuries, and tactics at these beaches to help the DEC consulted with experts protect these treasured sumContinued on page 9 mertime traditions,” Hochul
By CHARlES SHAW
cshaw@liherald.com
I
Holden Leeds/Herald
Around and around she goes Scarlett Tripi, 9, enjoyed a ride on the carousel during Maria Regina Catholic School’s annual carnival in Seaford on June 28. Story, more photos, Page 10.
District eyes sale of historic school
Voter approval would be required once a buyer is identified By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
The Wantagh School District has decided to sell its more than 100-year-old Beech Street property, which most recently operated as a day care center for four decades. The property’s sale would require voter approval once a buyer is identified, and the measure would be put up for a public referendum, district officials said. At the June 17 Wantagh Board of Education planning session, officials weighed several options for the district-owned property, at 1865 Beech St. The building, formerly leased to the
Wee Friends School — a South Shore preschool based in Bellmore — has remained vacant since the lease expired last August, and is in desperate need of extensive, costly repairs, according to a district news release. A school building was first constructed on the site in 1904 to serve elementary students, and was replaced in 1909 by the current, larger twostory structure, which continued as an elementary school until 1958. The building later housed the district’s administrative offices before being leased in 1982 to Wee Friends Nursery School and Day Camp for pre-K children. As part of the planning session, the board Continued on page 8
encourage beachgoers to follow guidance and directions from parks staff, and be shark smart while enjoying their summer fun.